What Are The Pros And Cons of Sexual Education? By: Kate Delaney
An editorial or viewpoint essay:
New york times. (2010, 2 7). . Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon1.html
The Abstinence done right editorial discussed a previous study done by the Bush administration that some people believe should be continued by the Obama Administration discussing abstinence programs. The study was done in inner city schools focusing on African American children in grades 6 and 7. The total 622 randomly assigned students would either be put in a group for an eight-hour abstinence-only program stressing the benefits of delaying intercourse; an eight-hour safer-sex program stressing condom use; a comprehensive intervention that covered both abstinence and condoms; and a control group that offered health information unrelated to sexual behavior. Then after 2 years the husband and wife pair that designed this study found that in the case of these children the only group that successfully was able to delay the start of sexual activity was the abstinence only group which had only one third of there group engage in sexual activity compared to the control which had about half of there group engage in sexual activity.
Although the study was only done with the specific group of inner city African American middle schoolers, people believe that it is most diffidently worth a closer look to seeing whether of not abstinent only groups would effect children of other races, social groups, and ages. I believe that there is no harm in further research although I also believe that only teaching one side to an issue such as sex can also be dangerous for those children when they grow up and start experimenting. At my school the health teacher taught us how to practice safe sex, but also taught us the dangers of sex and the disease that are common and what could happen if you are not safe. I believe for me it was good to hear both sides of the issue and to understand fully what sex is and what some consequences of not practicing safe sex are. An analysis article from a magazine or reputable newspaper:
George, R. P., & Moschella, M. (2011, October 18).Does sex ed undermine parental rights?. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/opinion/does-sex-ed-undermine-parental-rights.html
In this article the new york times discussed what is happening within the New York City schools involving the teaching of sex education to students and why parents are so upset by it. According to the New York Times some schools are teaching students about sex education before the parents are able to and influencing the students opinions. Parents are upset by this because these students are their children and they believe they have the right to teach there children what they want to about sex ed, and they don’t agree with the teachers telling them that they should only listen to what they have to say. Each family is different for example some families follow different religions and when a teacher is example to a student who may have a strong catholic background that it is okay to have sex as long as they are safe. The parents of that student are getting greatly distort over this because according to their religion it is not okay to have sex before one is even married. Which is why in New York, parents are beginning to argue whether or not sexual education should even be allowed in the school’s However Teachers are arguing that if a student comes from a background whose parents don’t explain how to practice safe sex they will never know and they might risk sexual transmitted diseases or an early pregnancy.
I understand both sides to what this article is saying so fully that it makes it hard for me to choice a side. However I believe it is important for the schools to teach there students about sexual education because without the full knowledge students are at risk for many diseases. Parents also should have an important say in teaching their children about sex ed as well but I strongly believe it is important to learn through the schools about all the diseases one could acquire through sex.
Journal Article (1): Welfare bill won't stop teenage pregnancy. (1995, December 18). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/291225555/133BD4E0FD021911D6B/2?
This article discusses the connection between teenage pregnancies and welfare and how directly related the two are. In the United States alone,
"About one-half of women on welfare were teens when they had their first child." Which makes the government believe that providing welfare for teenage mothers is now a way of condoning women have children at an early age because the government will then help them by providing these people with money to support their children if the father leaves them. Also once a teenager becomes pregnant they are less likely to finnish high school or any kind of schooling and more likely to remain on welfare much longer.
I believe that although these statistics about welfare are true cutting the money like they plan to do for these teenagers is not what should be done unless the government wants more people and children living on the streets. I believe that the most helpful thing would be to provide these women with daycare and schooling options to help them be successful because a majority of these women who have children at a young age do not have families to help them with supporting themselves and their children, which is why daycare and schooling would be the best option and the most helpful.
Journal Article (2): Comprehensive sex-ed measure advances. (2011, March 23). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/859612647/133BD579101B8AAB3E/7?accountid=28991
This article talked about the legislation passed by the Senate Bill 1619 on March 15, 2011 to teach students about the sexual education of using contraceptives and abstinence practices. The Bill was made in order to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies by making sure all schools across the country were teaching some sort of sex education course to their students in that given school.
This bill is important because it was just passed this year making it a law to teach students some sort of sex education in order to help eliminate or prevent the high amount of disease and pregnancies in our country. I believe the bill was a great way to jumpstart keeping our country ahead and hopefully allowing for a decrease in pregnancies and diseases to occur.
The most controversial issue according to this article is Sex Education in schools. In America about a third of the schools have switched to only abstinence education without teaching students about contraceptives. While America is now leading other countries in the most teenage pregnancies and abortions, and about 4 million teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease each year. So the real question is, is abstinence teaching really working? Students like the ones interviewed in this article believe that it is not. The freshman interviewed stated that she desperately wishes she were able to learn more about Contraceptives and other ways to remain sexually safe rather then just hear about why it is important to remain abstinent. She argued that most of the teenagers in her high school are sexually active or will soon become sexually active so isn’t it more important to learn how to be safe now rather than later. In a neighboring community parents and students argue that taking Sex Ed should be optional. That if a student wants to learn and if their parent argues they should then be able to take sexual education classes. But the high rate of pregnancies is also now being blamed on the media. Shows like “The OC”, “One tree Hill”, and “Friends”, which are known to include sexual contact are now being blamed for influencing the teenagers that watch these shows religiously for condoning sex.
Although the article shows the many different factors involved in teenage pregnancy rates and sex education, I believe it shows a lot of important information about both sides of why people may be for or against Sex Ed classes and what may also be the cause for the high rate in teenage pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases. I believe this article is very informative and an interesting read for parents and teachers to understand issues and the statistics involved with sexual education, and I personally feel a lot more informed about the issue.
EDC 102 Final Project Rubric for Part I: Background Research
Name: Score:
Points awarded
(Points Possible) Criteria
(1) Research was summarized on the team's issue page.
(2) Five articles summarized, including:
• (1) At least one editorial or viewpoint essay. (From Opposing Viewpoints, CQ Researcher, or Op/Ed from reputable magazine or newspaper.)
• (1) At least one analysis article from a magazine or reputable newspaper.
• (1) At least two journal articles.
• (1) At least one related ERIC summary article or CQ Researcher Report.
(3) Article entries include a APA* citation, a summary paragraph, and a reaction paragraph.
By: Kate Delaney
An editorial or viewpoint essay:
New york times. (2010, 2 7). . Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/opinion/08mon1.html
The Abstinence done right editorial discussed a previous study done by the Bush administration that some people believe should be continued by the Obama Administration discussing abstinence programs. The study was done in inner city schools focusing on African American children in grades 6 and 7. The total 622 randomly assigned students would either be put in a group for an eight-hour abstinence-only program stressing the benefits of delaying intercourse; an eight-hour safer-sex program stressing condom use; a comprehensive intervention that covered both abstinence and condoms; and a control group that offered health information unrelated to sexual behavior. Then after 2 years the husband and wife pair that designed this study found that in the case of these children the only group that successfully was able to delay the start of sexual activity was the abstinence only group which had only one third of there group engage in sexual activity compared to the control which had about half of there group engage in sexual activity.
Although the study was only done with the specific group of inner city African American middle schoolers, people believe that it is most diffidently worth a closer look to seeing whether of not abstinent only groups would effect children of other races, social groups, and ages. I believe that there is no harm in further research although I also believe that only teaching one side to an issue such as sex can also be dangerous for those children when they grow up and start experimenting. At my school the health teacher taught us how to practice safe sex, but also taught us the dangers of sex and the disease that are common and what could happen if you are not safe. I believe for me it was good to hear both sides of the issue and to understand fully what sex is and what some consequences of not practicing safe sex are.
An analysis article from a magazine or reputable newspaper:
George, R. P., & Moschella, M. (2011, October 18).Does sex ed undermine parental rights?. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/opinion/does-sex-ed-undermine-parental-rights.html
In this article the new york times discussed what is happening within the New York City schools involving the teaching of sex education to students and why parents are so upset by it. According to the New York Times some schools are teaching students about sex education before the parents are able to and influencing the students opinions. Parents are upset by this because these students are their children and they believe they have the right to teach there children what they want to about sex ed, and they don’t agree with the teachers telling them that they should only listen to what they have to say. Each family is different for example some families follow different religions and when a teacher is example to a student who may have a strong catholic background that it is okay to have sex as long as they are safe. The parents of that student are getting greatly distort over this because according to their religion it is not okay to have sex before one is even married. Which is why in New York, parents are beginning to argue whether or not sexual education should even be allowed in the school’s However Teachers are arguing that if a student comes from a background whose parents don’t explain how to practice safe sex they will never know and they might risk sexual transmitted diseases or an early pregnancy.
I understand both sides to what this article is saying so fully that it makes it hard for me to choice a side. However I believe it is important for the schools to teach there students about sexual education because without the full knowledge students are at risk for many diseases. Parents also should have an important say in teaching their children about sex ed as well but I strongly believe it is important to learn through the schools about all the diseases one could acquire through sex.
Journal Article (1):
Welfare bill won't stop teenage pregnancy. (1995, December 18). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/291225555/133BD4E0FD021911D6B/2?
This article discusses the connection between teenage pregnancies and welfare and how directly related the two are. In the United States alone,
"About one-half of women on welfare were teens when they had their first child." Which makes the government believe that providing welfare for teenage mothers is now a way of condoning women have children at an early age because the government will then help them by providing these people with money to support their children if the father leaves them. Also once a teenager becomes pregnant they are less likely to finnish high school or any kind of schooling and more likely to remain on welfare much longer.
I believe that although these statistics about welfare are true cutting the money like they plan to do for these teenagers is not what should be done unless the government wants more people and children living on the streets. I believe that the most helpful thing would be to provide these women with daycare and schooling options to help them be successful because a majority of these women who have children at a young age do not have families to help them with supporting themselves and their children, which is why daycare and schooling would be the best option and the most helpful.
Journal Article (2):
Comprehensive sex-ed measure advances. (2011, March 23). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/859612647/133BD579101B8AAB3E/7?accountid=28991
This article talked about the legislation passed by the Senate Bill 1619 on March 15, 2011 to teach students about the sexual education of using contraceptives and abstinence practices. The Bill was made in order to reduce sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies by making sure all schools across the country were teaching some sort of sex education course to their students in that given school.
This bill is important because it was just passed this year making it a law to teach students some sort of sex education in order to help eliminate or prevent the high amount of disease and pregnancies in our country. I believe the bill was a great way to jumpstart keeping our country ahead and hopefully allowing for a decrease in pregnancies and diseases to occur.
ERIC summary article or CQ Researcher Report:
Friedman, J., & (n.d.). Teen sex. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2005091600&type=hitlist&num=1
The most controversial issue according to this article is Sex Education in schools. In America about a third of the schools have switched to only abstinence education without teaching students about contraceptives. While America is now leading other countries in the most teenage pregnancies and abortions, and about 4 million teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease each year. So the real question is, is abstinence teaching really working? Students like the ones interviewed in this article believe that it is not. The freshman interviewed stated that she desperately wishes she were able to learn more about Contraceptives and other ways to remain sexually safe rather then just hear about why it is important to remain abstinent. She argued that most of the teenagers in her high school are sexually active or will soon become sexually active so isn’t it more important to learn how to be safe now rather than later. In a neighboring community parents and students argue that taking Sex Ed should be optional. That if a student wants to learn and if their parent argues they should then be able to take sexual education classes. But the high rate of pregnancies is also now being blamed on the media. Shows like “The OC”, “One tree Hill”, and “Friends”, which are known to include sexual contact are now being blamed for influencing the teenagers that watch these shows religiously for condoning sex.
Although the article shows the many different factors involved in teenage pregnancy rates and sex education, I believe it shows a lot of important information about both sides of why people may be for or against Sex Ed classes and what may also be the cause for the high rate in teenage pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases. I believe this article is very informative and an interesting read for parents and teachers to understand issues and the statistics involved with sexual education, and I personally feel a lot more informed about the issue.
EDC 102 Final Project Rubric for Part I: Background Research
Name:
Score:
Note:
Comments: